On Thursday morning, Gov. Maggie Hassan presented a compromise budget proposal and urged lawmakers to get to work quickly to reach an agreement.

The compromise proposal includes more funding for numerous key priorities, including winter road maintenance, fighting the addiction epidemic, overtime at the Department of Corrections, and the Community College System of New Hampshire. The proposal also includes funding for the new state employee contract negotiated by SEA/SEIU Local 1984 members; the Legislature cut funding for that agreement during budget negotiations.

Following the press conference, SEA/SEIU Local 1984 President Richard Gulla issued the following statement:

“We applaud the governor for proactively putting forward a budget compromise that incorporates priorities from both Republicans and Democrats, and including the funding necessary to fulfill the fairly negotiated contract for the hard working state employees who deliver quality public services to our state every day,” Gulla said.

“Throughout this budget process, our members have continued to do their jobs to make sure our roads are safe, our veterans and most needy are cared for, and that Granite Staters have the tools they need to compete for good jobs in today’s economy,” Gulla said. “Now it’s time for the Legislature to do its job, by coming back to the table quickly and reaching a bipartisan compromise by the target date of Sept. 16 so that we have a state budget that meets the needs of our state.”

Governor’s Proposal Includes Business Tax Cuts on Faster Timeline While Protecting State’s Long-Term Fiscal Outlook and Ability to Support Critical Economic Priorities

CONCORD – In an effort to reach a fiscally responsible, balanced and bipartisan budget agreement, Governor Maggie Hassan today offered a compromise proposal that includes and accelerates business tax cuts while also protecting the state’s long-term fiscal outlook and ability to support critical priorities such as combating the heroin crisis, holding down the cost of college tuition, continuing to strengthen and increase access to health coverage, and maintaining our roads and bridges.

“Over the past several weeks, I have met with business leaders and citizens across New Hampshire, and while businesses would of course like to pay lower taxes, they also recognize – as the bipartisan business tax commission has said – that there are other critical priorities that we must support, including investing in higher education, substance abuse prevention, health care, and transportation infrastructure,” Governor Hassan said. “This plan would allow us to do both: lower business taxes and ensure that in the future we do not have to make significant cuts to those critical priorities.”

Governor Hassan’s proposal lowers the Business Profits Tax to 7.9 percent for the 2016 tax year, three years earlier than the Committee of Conference budget, while increasing the threshold on who has to file and pay the Business Enterprise Tax, eliminating the tax completely for 5,500 small businesses. The Governor also includes funds to address the concerns raised by House Bill 550 and calls for stronger public process with additional public hearings on the language in August. The compromise proposal would also eliminate the Committee of Conference’s attempt to double count 2015 dollars to balance Fiscal Year 2016.

To offset the business tax cuts and the use of carryforward funds, the Governor’s compromise proposal would increase the cigarette tax by 21 cents – still lower than neighboring states– and include parity for e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. It would also increase the state portion of motor vehicle registration fee by five dollars and close a tax loophole restoring the Taxpayer Protection and Fair Documentation requirements to the state’s tax code, ensuring that all taxpayers are treated fairly.

With these steps, the Governor’s compromise proposal would strengthen efforts to combat the heroin crisis, providing $5.7 million in additional funds over the Committee of Conference budget for substance abuse prevention and treatment. Following a recommendation by Senior Director for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Jack Wozmak, the compromise proposal also moves up extension of substance abuse benefits to the existing Medicaid population to January 2016, and provides additional funds to support other efforts, such as a drug court in the City of Manchester.

The compromise proposal also adequately funds winter maintenance for highways, restores travel and tourism funds, and includes the modest cost-of-living pay increase for state employees that was previously negotiated in good faith.

Governor Hassan’s compromise proposal also recognizes that Republican legislators want to take up reauthorization of the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Program – which is providing coverage to more than 41,000 hard-working Granite Staters – outside of this budget. It does not remove the sunset for expansion, but it includes funds for the legislature to collect data on the program in the interim and ensures that funds are available to move forward if the program is reauthorized at a later date.

“As providers, health care professionals and other stakeholders tell me, the single most important step we can take in battling the opioid crisis is reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Program, which is already providing substance abuse services to thousands of Granite Staters,” Governor Hassan said. “I have heard from Republican legislative leaders that they are not willing to act on reauthorization in the budget, so this proposal does not move forward with reauthorization at this time.”

“Although we will reluctantly agree to wait to take up legislation reauthorizing expansion, we must do everything that we can between now and then to provide certainty about the future of the program and ensure that we have the data that the legislature needs,” Governor Hassan added. “We must reauthorize this critical program as quickly as possible to continue bringing tens of millions of dollars in federal funds into New Hampshire to increase our substance abuse treatment capacity.”

The Governor is encouraging the legislature to work in August so the full legislature can take up a compromise budget when they return on September 16.

“This proposal is a compromise, and it is an effort to address the real concerns of Republicans and Democrats in the legislature,” Governor Hassan said. “It provides Republicans with what they have indicated is their highest priority – cutting corporate taxes – in a faster timeframe while addressing concerns about long-term fiscal responsibility and protecting our ability to support critical economic priorities.”

“While people on both ends of either party may still want a different plan than the one I am proposing, this plan attempts to address the concerns of both parties in order to reach a common-ground that has enough votes from both sides of the aisle,” the Governor added. “I hope that this proposal can serve as a basis for bipartisan compromise and negotiation.”

“Passing a responsible budget requires compromise and we thank Governor Hassan for her leadership in proposing a fiscally responsible plan that seeks to address the concerns of both parties while still meeting the needs of New Hampshire’s people, businesses, and economy.”

“While the Governor’s proposal doesn’t contain everything we wish it did, it represents a true compromise by including Republicans’ top priority – business tax cuts – while offsetting the tax cuts to preserve our ability to invest in critical economic priorities like combating the heroin crisis, holding down the cost of college tuition, maintaining our roads and bridges, and protecting access to quality, affordable health care.”

“With the legislature scheduled to be in session in September, it’s imperative that our Republican colleagues come back to the table now so that we can pass a responsible, compromise budget on September 16.”

Concord, N.H. – As Republicans continue to play political games with the state budget and refuse to negotiate with Governor Hassan in good faith toward a responsible, compromise budget, irresponsible Republican budget and failure to continue Medicaid expansion “has drug treatment expansion plans on hold.“

The Monitor reported that Friendship House in Bethlehem “is looking to hire additional staff in each of the three counties it serves – Coos, Grafton and Carroll – and add more space to its 18-bed treatment facility, but won’t commit until the future of Medicaid expansion is certain.”

WMUR also reported, “Governor Maggie Hassan’s budget called for millions in substance abuse treatment, and while Republicans increased funding as well, it fell short of what the Governor had asked for.”

Anchor: “The budget battle in Concord stalling funding to fight the heroin epidemic. Governor Maggie Hassan’s budget called for millions in substance abuse treatment, and while Republicans increased funding as well, it fell short of what the Governor had asked for. Cuts to business taxes remain a major sticking point and the impasse continues.”

Senator Soucy: “We need to do more, we need to keep working, we need to get back to the table to negotiate a more meaningful budget for the people of New Hampshire.”

… But uncertainty about Medicaid expansion’s future is creating pause at a time when advocates say action is critical.

“If you want to build more capacity, you have to have means to pay for it,” said Tym Rourke, chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery. “No provider is going to expand services because there’s no guaranteed mechanism to pay for care.”

… “Agencies are transforming how they do business to accept folks who now have coverage for their addiction,” said Abby Shockley, executive director of the New Hampshire Provider’s Association. “It’s hard for them to go through all of this infrastructure development, to hire new staff and expand services when they have a lot of uncertainty.”

… The Friendship House in Bethlehem is the only state-funded residential treatment center in the North Country, and officials there see Medicaid expansion as the way to serve a growing need.

“Everybody knows heroin is a problem,” said Michael Coughlin, CEO of Tri-County Cap, which oversees the Friendship House. “We hear all over the North Country the need for more resources. We want to be able to put those in place.”

While the center is beginning to hire more staff, it is holding back on more costly infrastructure investments – like increasing the number of treatment beds – until lawmakers determine the fate of Medicaid expansion.

… the Friendship House is looking to hire additional staff in each of the three counties it serves – Coos, Grafton and Carroll – and add more space to its 18-bed treatment facility, but won’t commit until the future of Medicaid expansion is certain.

… “We will do it if this Legislature keeps this expanded Medicaid alive,” Coughlin said. “Clearly the need is here in the North Country.” [Full story]

Businesses, Advocates And Elected Officials Stand With Governor Hassan As She Fights For A Fiscally Responsible Budget That Protects Economic Priorities

Tom Strickland, owner of Sequoya Technologies Group in Peterborough, wrote in an op-ed, “My business is larger than 93 percent of the businesses in New Hampshire and these tax cuts will only save me $150 per year. That’s not enough for me to hire workers, buy equipment, or expand… What these tax cuts WILL do is result in even deeper cuts in critical state programs. The needs don’t go away when the program funding does. Those needs just shift to the community and that costs us all. Please keep my tax cut. I just can’t afford it.”

In a joint op-ed, Katie Robert, president of the New Hampshire Public Health Association and Kim Mohan, executive director of the New England Rural Health Roundtable, wrote, “The priorities embraced by the 2016-17 budgets, recently passed by the New Hampshire House and Senate, seem notably inconsistent with the needs of the state from a public health and public policy perspective… While these budget priorities are disconnected with the needs of the state overall, they would be particularly detrimental to the rural communities of our state, which make up 47 percent of the state’s population and cover 90 percent of its area.”

In an editorial on the Supreme Court’s decision upholding access to affordable health coverage, the Concord Monitor wrote, “The New Hampshire Legislature, in particular, should see the writing on the wall and reauthorize the state’s [Medicaid expansion] program without delay.”

Tym Rourke, chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment, told the Concord Monitor, “Reauthorization [of Medicaid expansion] has a big impact on treatment availability.”

In a joint op-ed, Senator Andrew Hosmer and Rep. Cindy Rosenwald wrote, “We stand with Governor Hassan in her decision to veto the fiscally irresponsible and unbalanced Republican budget, which we can only describe as a trail of false promises. You may have heard Republicans claim that their budget increases funding for critical priorities like substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and our seniors. But there’s one very big problem. Republicans’ fiscally irresponsible budget isn’t actually balanced, placing every single one of those priorities — and more — at risk.”

Rep. Timothy Smithwrote in an op-ed, “This year, the Senate started by considering tens of millions of dollars in new tax cuts for businesses with its very first bills – but no one has really looked at the long-term consequences of these cuts.”

… Hassan made good on her threat and vetoed the proposed two-year budget, saying the tax cuts would blow a $90 million hole in future years in exchange for giveaways to big corporations.

“When I made this decision, which I didn’t do lightly, what I really stepped back to think about was the progress we’ve made over the last two years and the progress we need to continue to make so that we are a competitive 21st century economy – not just in this two-year cycle, but in all the cycles to come,” she said Thursday during an interview with The Telegraph editorial board.

… Hassan criticized the Republican budget for unpaid-for tax giveaways to mostly out-of-state corporations at the expense of other economic priorities such as higher education and public safety.

Her administration said the budget would not provide year-to-year increase to the university system and leaves New Hampshire vulnerable to losing young people looking at high price tags at in-state colleges. She also blasted the budget for failing to adequately fund substance abuse prevention and diverting infrastructure funds intended for road and bridge repairs.

Hassan said she is not against corporate tax reductions when done properly, but said Republican budget writers raided all the wrong funding sources to make them a reality.

“Philosophically I’m not opposed to doing it, but we do have to be able to pay for the very things that businesses all around the state tell me are their priorities,” she said.

Rep. Cindy Rosenwald, a Nashua Democrat and party leader in the House, said there is general agreement on spending priorities and she shares the governor’s concern about the unpaid-for business tax cuts.

“They would cost $23 million in this budget and $90 million in future budgets. The evidence that such tax cuts would drive higher economic growth just isn’t there,” Rosenwald said. “States like Kansas and Ohio have tried without success, and our own experience several years ago with a reduction in the tobacco tax rate also failed.” [Full story]

Hassan said the budget would not provide any year-to-year increase to the university system, still funded below 2010 levels, or adequately fund substance abuse prevention. She said it also would force the Sununu Youth Services Center to cut a quarter of its budget; omit a modest cost-of-living increase for employees; divert funds intended for road and bridge repairs and underfund snow plowing and removal. [Full story]

“I have vetoed the budget passed by the legislature because it is unbalanced, makes false promises about what it funds, and gives unpaid-for tax giveaways to big corporations, many based out-of-state, at the expense of critical economic priorities, including higher education, health care, public safety and transportation,” Hassan said in her veto message. “The long-term impact of these unpaid-for corporate tax cuts will create a more than $90 million hole in future budgets, further eroding our ability to encourage economic growth.” [Full story]

Hassan said she hopes negotiations will start immediately. “I urge the legislators to meet with me as soon as possible so we can begin discussions on how we can build the kind of budget that is critical to our economic future,” she said Thursday at the State House. [Full story]

CONCORD – Governor Maggie Hassan issued the following statement today after the legislature voted to pass the Committee of Conference budget proposal, as well as a continuing resolution:

“The Republican budget is unbalanced, dishonest about what it funds, and includes unpaid-for corporate tax cuts that create a more than $90 million budget hole in future budgets at the expense of critical economic priorities, and I will veto it when it comes to my desk. While I am not philosophically opposed to business tax cuts, we cannot undermine our economic future and jeopardize priorities such as affordable higher education, access to health care, safe roads and bridges, and combatting the substance misuse crisis facing our state by not paying for those cuts.

“I have repeatedly offered compromises to address the unpaid-for corporate tax cuts, and will continue to do so, but we cannot enact a plan that would create a $90 million dollar hole in future budgets that will undermine our ability to fund the services we all agree are critical to our people, families and businesses.

“Despite our disagreements on the budget, I appreciate the legislature’s efforts to pass a continuing resolution, and I will sign this measure to keep state government open. Moving forward, I continue to encourage legislative leadership to return to the table and negotiate in good faith to develop a fiscally responsible, balanced budget, and I remain ready, willing and able to sit down with them at any time to reach a true compromise that builds on our progress of the last two years and honestly supports the priorities that are critical to keeping our economy moving forward.”

Concord, N.H. – Today New Hampshire Republicans pushed through their unbalanced budget that would blow a $90 million dollar hole in our state budget.

“The irresponsible Republican budget is unbalanced, gives unpaid-for tax giveaways to big, out-of-state corporations, and blows a $90 million hole in the budget at the expense of critical economic priorities like education, health care, transportation, and public safety,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jeff Woodburn. “And while my Democratic colleagues and I would have preferred a continuing resolution that built on our areas of agreement and offered a productive step toward compromise, we are glad Republicans worked with us to ensure that state government remains open.”

Senate Democrats offered an amendment to the continuing resolution that would have authorized state agencies to spend 96 percent of the first six months of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget. The floor amendment would have addressed concerns that the Republican budget is unbalanced and allowed for funding increases to home care providers, for substance abuse, mental health and charter schools, travel and tourism promotion and public schools. The amendment was defeated along a party line vote.

“What began as a special, 11th hour tax loophole for one company, and one former Governor with a profit-sharing interest in that company, has evolved into a major tax loophole that could allow all stock transactions by businesses and corporations in New Hampshire to be entirely tax-free. This tax cut is not accounted for in the budget, which is another reason why the budget is unbalanced. This far reaching tax change goes way beyond what the Business Tax Study Commission recommended to be reviewed to help start-up companies,” said Senator Dan Feltes.

When asked about the $90 million hole Republicans would blow in the budget in order to give unpaid-for tax giveaways to big corporations, Republican Speaker Shawn Jasper said that $90 million “is insignificant” in New Hampshire’s budget.

“The fact that Shawn Jasper thinks creating a $90 million hole in the budget for unpaid-for corporate tax giveaways is ‘insignificant’ underscores why Republicans have absolutely zero credibility on fiscal responsibility,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Press Secretary Aaron Jacobs. “A $90 million budget hole is bigger than the state budget for the community college system, and it is New Hampshire’s families, small businesses and economy that would pay the price for Republicans irresponsible and unpaid-for tax giveaways.”

Govenror Hassan threatened to veto this unbalanced budget and has been steadfast in her opposition to these tax giveaways. The passage of a continuing resolution does mean that the threat of shutting down the government is gone but the budget battle rages on.

“The Republican budget is unbalanced, dishonest about what it funds, and includes unpaid-for corporate tax cuts that create a more than $90 million budget hole in future budgets at the expense of critical economic priorities, and I will veto it when it comes to my desk,” said Governor Hassan. (Full Statement)

“We’re proud to stand with Governor Hassan as she continues to fight for the long-term economic interests of our state, and the priorities that will move New Hampshire’s people, businesses, and economy forward, including affordable college tuition, safe roads and bridges, access to quality and affordable health coverage, and protecting our communities,” said Woodburn.

“We must return to work immediately, and I urge my Senate colleagues to work together with Governor Hassan and members of both parties to pass a responsible, balanced budget that actually funds what it claims to,” said Woodburn.

“Finding consensus requires both sides to be willing to compromise and I hope that we can all agree that we need to find a solution that supports our families and small businesses, keeps our economy moving in the right direction, and expands opportunity for all,” concluded Woodburn.

The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute has also been an outspoken opponent to the tax giveaways to out of state corporations.

“What is most notable about the budget passed by the legislature today is not what it would do for New Hampshire over the next two years. Rather, the budget is more remarkable in what it lacks — and in its implications for New Hampshire’s longer-term future.

“Absent from the legislature’s budget are provisions to keep New Hampshire’s landmark Health Protection Program in place beyond 2016, creating uncertainty for enrollees and providers and putting the state at risk for losing millions in federal funds. Absent are more thorough responses to trends that could imperil New Hampshire’s economic future, such as sharp declines in support for public higher education; New Hampshire’s low level of support for higher education leaves students with debt burdens that are among the highest in the nation. Absent too is funding for the previously agreed upon state employee contract.

“Absent, most critically, is more than $20 million in state revenue due to short-sighted business tax cuts, as well as any plan for accommodating the much larger revenue losses they will produce in the years ahead. These tax cuts will leave future legislators with the daunting task of deciding how to come to grips with the loss of more than $65 million in revenue in FY 2018-2019 and more than $90 million in FY 2020-2021.

“We hope policymakers can come together soon to craft an alternative budget that is fiscally and socially responsible and that puts New Hampshire on a path toward a more prosperous future for all.”

Concord – House and Senate Republicans passed a fiscally irresponsible, gimmick-laden, dishonest budget today that will harm New Hampshire’s working families.

NH Building and Construction Trades Council President Steve Burk issued the following statement:

“Today’s Republican budget is a disaster for working families that does absolutely nothing to create good paying middle class jobs for Granite Staters. This budget hands out a massive tax cut to big out-of-state corporations that will blow a $90 million hole in our budget. We know from what has happened in Kansas that huge tax cuts don’t pay for themselves. To the contrary, they cause job losses, decreased revenue, and economic damage. Republicans are playing politics with our economy rather than doing the people’s business, and New Hampshire is worse off for it.

What’s even worse, this Republican budget reneges on a fairly negotiated contract with our state employees. This is a breach of trust that undermines the credibility of our government and hurts working families. The people of New Hampshire deserve better.

Governor Hassan should veto this irresponsible budget, and Republicans should negotiate in good faith to find a path ahead that funds critical priorities like job creation, education, health care, transportation, and public safety.”

The NH Building and Construction Trades Council is an organization of more than 20 New Hampshire labor unions in the construction industry, representing more than 3,000 working men and women.

National State-Tax Expert Michael Mazerov Outlines Why Business Tax Cuts Will Not Produce Economic Growth for New Hampshire

Concord, NH – Nearly 50 New Hampshire legislators gathered in Concord today to learn about the impact business tax cuts have had in other states and why such tax cuts are ineffective as a strategy to foster economic growth. Hosted by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, the event featured nationally-recognized state tax policy expert Michael Mazerov, who outlined research regarding the relationship between state taxes and economic performance.

“Preserving high-quality state and local services needed by businesses, especially education and infrastructure, should be the primary economic growth strategy for states – including New Hampshire – to pursue,” said Mazerov.

Mazerov’s presentation examined the relationship between taxes and economic growth, explored the impact business tax cuts have had in other states, and discussed the effect tax cuts can have on states’ ability to invest in education, infrastructure, and other areas vital to a vibrant economy.

“What really explains most of the relative rate of job growth among states is their ability to nurture and ensure the survival of the small number of start-ups that develop an innovative technology, product or business model,” said Mazerov.

The negative effect of tax cuts on economic growth is well illustrated by the state of Ohio. Between 2005 and 2015 Ohio implemented numerous tax cuts intended to promote economic growth, yet during this ten-year period the state’s employment rate experienced no net growth while employment increased by 5.8 percent nationally.

“The business tax cuts contained in the Committee of Conference budget would severely constrain New Hampshire’s ability to make critical investments,” said Jeff McLynch, executive director of the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. “Phasing such tax reductions in over time simply puts difficult tradeoffs onto future legislatures, with no plan for accommodating the loss in revenue.”

Michael Mazerov is a senior fellow with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, based in Washington DC, where he focuses on state tax and budget policy. Prior to joining CBPP, Mazerov served as director of policy research for the Multistate Tax Commission.

NHGOP Ignores What’s The Matter With Kansas, Unpaid-For Tax Cuts For Big Corporations Will Lead To Years of Red Ink

Look At States Governed By Republicans – Like Kansas – “And It Seems That The GOP Might Need A Collective Refresher Course In Economics, If Not General Math”

Concord, N.H. – As New Hampshire Republicans continue pushing their plan to blow a $90 million hole in future budgets with unpaid-for tax giveaways for big, out-of-state corporations, they’re ignoring one key issue: we’ve already seen how this plays out.

When Kansas Governor Sam Brownback declared his state was a real-world “experiment” in Koch Brothers economics, he was right. The fact is simple: unpaid-for tax cuts will either result in budget deficits, cuts to critical priorities – or as happened in Kansas, both.

A recent report from U.S. News explains, “Look at states governed by Republicans” like Kansas, “and it seems that the GOP might need a collective refresher course in economics, if not general math.”

“New Hampshire Republicans either need a refresher course in economics, or they could just get on a plane and see what’s the matter with Kansas for themselves,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. “The bottom line is that unpaid-for tax cuts result in budget deficits, cuts to critical economic priorities, or as we’re seeing in Kansas, both. Any Republican who tries to claim otherwise needs to take their head out of the sand.”

Governor Says Republican Budget is “Unbalanced, Dishonest about what it Funds, and Includes Unpaid-For Corporate Tax Cuts that Create a More Than $90 Million Budget Hole”

CONCORD – Calling the nearly finalized Republican budget fiscally irresponsible and unbalanced, Governor Maggie Hassan today reiterated her intention to veto it if it comes to her desk as it is.

“Their budget is unbalanced, dishonest about what it funds, and includes unpaid-for corporate tax cuts that create a more than $90 million budget hole at the expense of critical economic priorities,” Governor Hassan said. “It is also left unbalanced by relying on misleading budget gimmicks. It double counts fiscal year 2015 dollars, it does not adequately fund basic services and it does not honestly fund the services we all agree are critical to our people, families and businesses.”

In February, the Governor presented a fiscally responsible, balanced budget – without a sales or an income tax – that was transparent and honest about how it supported critical economic priorities such as making higher education more affordable, strengthening public safety, ensuring access to affordable health care, and repairing roads and bridges. Unpaid-for tax cuts and budget gimmicks that leave the near-final Republican budget unbalanced threaten the state’s ability to support those priorities and keep New Hampshire’s economy forward.

“Their unfunded corporate tax cuts will create a significant hole in this budget and budgets well into the future – making college tuition more expensive; hurting our ability to ensure workers can access health-care without financial ruin; leading to unplowed, unsafe roads for commuters and businesses; and failing to adequately address substance misuse in the midst of a heroin crisis,” Governor Hassan said. “This fiscally irresponsible approach undermines our economic future, putting out-of-state corporate special interests ahead of New Hampshire’s families, small businesses and economy.”

Governor Hassan has been at the table with Republican leadership, and she has been clear throughout the process about her priorities and that she believes there is room for compromise to find common ground and achieve a bipartisan budget that addresses the shared priorities that legislators from both parties agree on.

“Our families deserve better. Our businesses deserve better. And the hard-working people of the Granite State deserve better. Republicans need to join me in putting New Hampshire’s families, businesses and economic interests first, and to get back to work immediately, prepare a continuing resolution and negotiate in good faith to develop a fiscally responsible, balanced and bipartisan budget that builds on our progress of the last two years to keep our economy moving forward.”

House Democratic Leader Steve Shurtleff and Senate Democratic Leader Jeff Woodburn released the following statement in support of Governor Hassan’s fiscally responsible budget leadership:

“Governor Hassan proposed a fiscally responsible, balanced budget that makes smart investments in critical economic priorities like higher education, health care, roads and bridges, and public safety, without an income or sales tax.”

“But Republicans chose instead to put forward an irresponsible plan that blows a $90 million hole in the state’s budget to benefit big, out-of-state corporations at the expense of New Hampshire middle class families and small businesses.”

“We’re proud to stand with Governor Hassan as she continues to fight for the priorities that will move New Hampshire’s people, businesses, and economy forward, including affordable college tuition, safe roads and bridges, access to quality and affordable health coverage, and protecting our communities.”

“We look forward to working with our Republicans colleagues when they decide to put partisanship aside and actually negotiate in good faith to pass a responsible, bipartisan budget that meets the needs of our state.”

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